On Saturday, April 15, 2023, from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m., the International Crane Foundation will sponsor the 47th Annual Midwest Crane Count. More than 1,800 volunteer participants from throughout Wisconsin and portions of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and Minnesota participate in the spring survey, which gathers information on the abundance and distribution of cranes in the upper Midwest.
New volunteers interested in taking part in the survey should first contact their local County Coordinator for instructions. Contact the Dunn County Crane Count Coordinator Amy Leach at amymrleach@gmail.com. Additional information on the crane count can be found at cranecount.org.
The International Crane Foundation sponsors the Annual Midwest Crane Count as a part of its mission to conserve the world’s 15 species of cranes and the natural communities on which they depend. Sandhill Cranes once nearly disappeared from Wisconsin, but the species has successfully recovered and is slowly expanding into neighboring states.
Observations of Sandhill Cranes can lend insight into threatened crane species, including the endangered Whooping Crane. There are now approximately 75 Whooping Cranes in the reintroduced population in central Wisconsin, and Crane Counters may have a chance of sighting a Whooping Crane during the survey.
The International Crane Foundation works worldwide to conserve cranes and the ecosystems, watersheds and flyways on which they depend. We provide knowledge, leadership and inspiration to engage people in resolving threats to cranes and their diverse landscapes. From our nearly 300-acre headquarters in Baraboo, Wisconsin, USA, our reach extends across the globe. We have offices in China, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and South Africa, as well as Texas, and work through strong partnerships with local organizations, governments, universities, businesses and others in these regions. Our 125 staff members across the globe work with hundreds of specialists in more than 50 countries on five continents. Learn more at savingcranes.org.
